PETALING JAYA: April 26, 2008
Prominent lawyer Karpal Singh has welcomed the Government’s decision to renew Tamil daily Makkal Osai’s publication permit, citing freedom of the press as fundamental to the Rule of Law.
He said the Government, in its efforts to reinvent itself through liberal policies after the March 8 general election, should give the highest premium to freedom of the press.
Makkal Osai's application for a new permit was rejected by the Home Ministry on April 16.
The paper, however, received approval on Thursday after filing an appeal. It had stopped publication for a week.
“Freedom of the press, in the final analysis, reflects political stability which is crucial to foreign investment,” said Karpal Singh.
“The renewal has also saved more than 100 employees, who otherwise would have become unemployed,” he said in a statement.
On another matter, Karpal Singh said the high-profile Altantuya murder trial should proceed without any further postponements.
He was speaking in response to an outburst by Altantuya’s father Dr Shaariibuu Setev on Thursday during a press conference where he expressed frustration at the slow pace of the trial.
“I fully understand Dr Shaariibuu’s outburst as the slow pace of the trial has taken its toll on him and his family,” said Karpal Singh.
He added that he wrote to the Attorney-General yesterday to ensure the trial proceeded swiftly.
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